Baseball: Montclair High coach Gavazzi steps down

Led MHS to

1st GNT title

in 49 years

Ron Gavazzi, who raised the stature of Montclair High baseball back to a high level it once knew in the late 1960s and early 1970s, capped by a Greater Newark Tournament championship in 2012 - the school's first since 1963 - has resigned his position as the Mounties head diamond coach to accept an assistant football coach's position at Kean University.

"It's an opportunity to get back into the college game," Gavazzi said. "I'm going to be coaching on the offensive side of the ball at Kean.

"I will be starting off as the passing game coordinator with an agreement and plan to have a larger role. My time commitment for spring ball will be too much for me to coach along with the baseball team. I feel I am a baseball guy but I have always said I am football coach coaching baseball."

Where Montclair turns to find a new head baseball coach remains to be seen; however, there is speculation that Gavazzi's longtime assistant Anthony Genchi, who is also Montclair's American Legion coach, could be a leading candidate to take over since he has been closely involved with the program for the past eight years and has an interest in the position.

Two other assistants on the Montclair staff, pitching coach Angelo Intile and longtime bench coach Jamie Bittner, are not expected to apply for the head coaching position.

With the first day of practice set for Friday, March 7, just a month away, it's questionable whether Montclair would bring someone in from the outside, although the job is being advertised as is part of the mandated process in a school system when a position opens up.

"It's still too early to know what we're going to do as far as filling the position, but we're anxious to get the process started," said Jeff Gannon, Montclair's interim assistant principal for athletics and student activities, who took over for John Porcelli, who retired from the position on Oct. 31. "As part of the legality of the process, the position must be posted for a 2-week period when we can accept applications and I probably don't see us being able to begin to really do a lot in terms of narrowing down candidates until after Valentine's Day (Feb. 14).

"We only found out about Ron's decision about a week ago and we wish him all the luck in the world with his new role at Kean. He made a complete culture change in terms of improving the attitude for the better as far as the Montclair High baseball program is concerned during his eight seasons with us, and he got the kids excited about baseball again."

Even at the still relatively young age of 33, Gavazzi has already established a rather lengthy background in coaching in both baseball and football dating back to his days as a 21-year-old head baseball coach at Bayley-Ellard in Madison.

He had been selected to be the Bishops' head football coach; however the parochial school closed its doors for good in the spring of 2004 before Gavazzi could coach his first gridiron squad there.

While he was at Montclair as the school's head baseball coach at age 25, starting in 2006, he also began to coach football at Montclair State University, serving as an assistant on head coach Rick Giancola's staff until he moved into the high school ranks as an assistant to Greg Toal at New Jersey parochial school powerhouse Don Bosco Prep for both the 2012 and 2013 seasons.

Gavazzi's imprint on Montclair baseball will not be soon forgotten and the Mounties' eight-year coach can indeed take pride in the foundation he has established.

"I am extremely proud about the development of the program," he said. "I believe now that Montclair is considered a top baseball program in the county and recognized amongst the state. That was the goal and the players deserve full credit for their commitment in turning it all around. A rebuilding process of a program is never easy but a rebirth takes a total culture shock. The daily atmosphere and climate needed to be changed. Those things were the biggest challenges. I had visions but in order for them to become reality I needed the support from everyone who was involved. Namely my (former) athletic director John Porcelli, my entire coaching staff-specifically, Anthony Genchi, the parents and obviously the players. Coach Porcelli saw a leader in me and he was convinced in my abilities to teach the game and just not run a team but run a program. I will always be truly grateful to him for giving me the opportunity. My relationship with him was and is genuine and I am happy to call him my friend.

In exiting the Montclair baseball program, Gavazzi made sure to mention the gratitude he had for his fellow coaches and the parental support he received at the history-laden Essex County high school.

"I was fortunate enough to work with some loyal coaches through the years," he continued. "Loyalty is the number one trait a staff needs. I had Anthony for all eight years and he deserves tons of credit for everything that was accomplished. Obviously having my former high school coach Angelo Intile was special to me personally. Being able to work with Jamie Bittner was an important experience for my development. Pat Errico, Kevin LaMonico and Kevin Richberg were all coaches that put in valuable time and cared deeply about myself and the kids in the program."

"The one thing about Montclair is the parental support. Many parents were big time supporters of myself and the program. Their support was extremely important. Bill Caggiano, Craig Moore, Marshall Sarfati, Jerry Citro, Terry Alvare, Joe Campeas, Lenny & Maria Pignatello and Keith Davenport were all great people that I met and always had the best interests of the kids. Years after their kids graduated you could find them down at the ball park rooting the team on."

Gavazzi believes strongly in the bright future for Montclair baseball as he prepares to depart the program.

"I believe in Montclair baseball players," he said. "I believe they will continue the standard that has been set and will demonstrate the core parts on what the program was built on. Namely commitment, self-sacrifice, trust, honesty and toughness. Also keeping the belief that they will out work the competition and never settle for anything less than first place."